Adam Allgood
Mutual Dilemma
Chapter #17
On board the Starship Poseidon, repair crews were busy sealing
ruptured fuel conduits and breaches in the hulls, replacing burnt consoles,
and rebooting blasted systems. Nearly a week had passed since away teams
from the Enterprise had made their way to the crippled vessel. External
repairs focused primarily on the starboard nacelle, which suffered extreme
damage.
Data and Riker stood in Engineering, staring at the massive
matter/antimatter dilithium chamber. The device, which consisted of two
pumps leading into a round central point, was dark and quiet. Even though
the physical wounds of the ship were being mended, it was still without
power, atmosphere, and gravity. All personnel aboard still wore the
magnetic extravehicular activities suits required in a vacuum.
"Status report," Riker said into his helmet.
"We are not quite ready to activate the auxiliary power systems,"
came the response, from some ensign working maintenance.
"Why not?"
"We haven't completed repairs to the plasma conduits on this deck.
There was a huge hull breach by Sick Bay."
"When will you be ready?"
"Give us another half hour" came a somewhat curt reply. Riker bit
back the urge to reprimand the subordinate for disrespect. Everyone has
been working double shifts while wearing the confining EVA suits. Most
only had five to seven hours per day back on the Enterprise. Also, the
emergency rations were a poor replacement for food. Tempers were wearing
thin, and the commander knew that the ensign probably didn't mean any
disrespect.
"Carry on." The worst thing, Riker thought, is the fact that you
can't even rub your sleepy eyes in this d--- suit.
"Commander," Data's voice brought him back to the real world.
"Mmm hmm?" The android's face showed concern.
"I have observed you swaying back and forth twice in the past ten
minutes. Perhaps you should return to the..."
"I'm fine, Commander Data," he said, shaking the fatigue from his
brain. "Let's check up on the Bridge." Perhaps some good exercise,
climbing the ladders to get to deck one, would help wake me up. The two
officers trudged off.
On board the Defiant, matters were much better. Main power was
back to fifty percent. Shields and weapons were coming back on line, and
external repairs were moving on schedule. With its impulse engines back to
full strength, the Defiant moved into Earth orbit under its own power.
Repair teams would soon be transferred to the Poseidon, where they were
more needed.
Worf sat in the command chair, overseeing his crew's progress.
Engineers bustled about the Bridge, connecting wires here, and replacing
burnt panels there. The viewscreen was still out, and the ceiling was
still gone, but the Bridge of the Defiant was beginning to return to
normal.
Captain Picard was drinking tea in his ready room, when the door
chime sounded. Standing, he straightened his uniform tunic, and shut the
screen on his portable pad.
"Come," the doors opened, admitting Darien and Serena. The four
sailor scouts followed from behind. Picard sensed a feeling of agitation
in the young man, and Serena, apparently noticing it as well, had a look of
concern on her face. By his manner, Picard knew what Darien had on his
mind.
"It's time," he said, clenching his fists. "They are trying to
conceal it, but their voices betray them." Darien looked at the captain
excitedly. Picard closed his eyes and concentrated on the dark sensation
in his mind that he would have rather had forgotten completely. The voice
of the Collective. Suddenly, the surge of unified voices surged through
his mind. At first, they seemed incongruous and unintelligible, but within
seconds, certain messages became clear. He opened his eyes.
"The surface.... you want to go down to the surface." Picard gazed
at the man before him seriously.
"Yes, captain. You know it, and I know it. They're weak. They
are concentrating their efforts on building the cube."
"Yes, I know that. However, how can we launch an assault on the
Borg vessel without causing significant damage to the planet?" Picard was
intrigued, but remained skeptical.
"I wasn't thinking about firing from space. We could send people
inside the cube...sabotage their distribution nodes..."
"Yes, but my crew is not large enough to effectively pull that
off." The captain leaned back in his chair, and propped his head on his
fist.
"Captain, we can't just sit here and wait for them to come to us.
They will be too strong. Even for three ships. They still have tactical
information on your fleet."
"And we cannot go to the surface and only disable a portion of
their vessel. We'd lose the window of opportunity you just brought to my
attention."
"It's better than not going at all." Darien leaned his hands on
Picard's table. Serena looked at him in concern.
"I'm afraid that I must disagree. The Borg can kill or assimilate
everyone we would beam down there, and for what? We'd delay them for only
a few hours, and then they will be up here! Facing three vessels with
practically no crews. They would have no trouble assimilating us, and then
moving unchallenged through your galaxy!" Darien pounded the table with
his fist. Picard moved abruptly as if he was going to stand, and then he
relaxed. Serena moved forward and locked Darien's arm in hers.
"We can't let those monsters win. I saw the horror they caused. I
saw the crew of the Lalo trying to free their helpless ship from the Borg
tractor beam. I felt the heat of their weapons slicing through forty of
your ships at the star Wolf three five nine, killing eleven thousand
people. I saw the wretched thing they forced into my body smash my
girlfriend in the side of the head, knocking her unconscious instantly.
I'm sorry, but we cannot let them win. I'll go down their alone, and
sabotage their ship by myself if I have to!" Darien breathed heavily, his
anger coursing through his veins like magma.
"Why can't the armies do it?" Serena asked, suddenly. Picard gave
her a questioning glance.
"I'm sorry, what was that?"
"Earth has so many armies. Can't they help?" The scouts that were
watching quietly from afar quickly moved beside their leader.
"I think Serena's on to something." Raye exclaimed.
"Yes," said Amy. "We could draw upon the services of Earth's
military power. I'm sure that they would agree to unite against a common
enemy." Picard and Darien looked at the girls in surprise. Darien was
beaming. He turned to the captain.
"There's your manpower, sir!" Picard shook his head.
"How could I ask thousands of innocents to put themselves at risk
in a peril that they don't even understand?"
"The Borg will assimilate Earth whether or not they get involved."
"That's not guaranteed. There is still my three ships here...."
"Captain, I seriously doubt that your three ships can do anything
significant against the Borg. This is our only chance." The captain was
silent for a long time. His eyes were focused on the table below him.
"I see." He continued to sit motionless. After a while, Mina and
Amy sat on the floor cross legged. Finally, the captain spoke. "I have
extreme doubts about the course of action you are proposing. However, it
seems that you are right in your assessment that it is our only known
option. Since it seems that we have no other choice, I have decided to
make first contact with Earth, and to request that they mobilize a massive
strike force." Darien laughed for the first time since his ordeal with the
Borg began. He turned to Serena, grasped her face with both of his hands,
and kissed her on the lips.
"Thank you, Serena. You are the prettiest Einstein in the galaxy."
Serena blushed, and wrapped her arms around him. The other scouts crowded
around. Picard stood up, and pointed to the door.
"Dismissed." The six left, and when they were gone, Picard smiled
to himself. Then he sighed, and pulled up his workpad, and cleared the
data to make some more room. "Computer, give me access to this planet's
historical records by sending radio signals to their libraries."